Population growth from migration is on the rise again with Statistics NZ estimating the net migration gain (long term arrivals minus long term departures) was 58,391 in the 12 months to the end of January.

That's up 10.4% compared to the net gain of 52,880 that occurred in the 12 months to January last year, and is getting close to the peak of 61,800 that occurred in the 12 months to January 2017.

Statistics NZ, which recently changed the way it measures migration flows, also revised upwards its previous estimate of the net gain for the 12 months to December from 48,300 to 56,200, suggesting its previous estimates were significantly understated, throwing some doubt on the reliability of the monthly figures when they are released.

Statistics NZ also estimated that the net gain of non-New Zealand citizens hit what is believed to be a record high of 66,116 in the year to January, which was up 14.2% compared to the previous 12 months.

But the overall net gain was reduced by a net loss of 7725 New Zealand citizens in the 12 months to the end of January.

Statistics NZ estimated the biggest net gain in the 12 months to January was from China and Hong Kong at 9546, closely followed by India 9412, South Africa 6672, and the Philippines 6386.

Of the 151,620 people who arrived in the country long term in the year to January, the biggest group by visa type were Australian and NZ citizens at 44,384 which was up 1.5% compared to the previous 12 months, followed by those on work visas 33,178 (+10.6%), visitor visas 32,219 (+21.5%), student visas 26,109 (+3.4%) and residency visas (-8.7%).

We welcome your help to improve our coverage of this issue. Any examples or experiences to relate? Any links to other news, data or research to shed more light on this? Any insight or views on what might happen next or what should happen next? Any errors to correct?

We welcome your comments below. If you are not already registered, please register to comment or click on the "Register" link below a comment.

Remember we welcome robust, respectful and insightful debate. We don't welcome abusive or defamatory comments and will de-register those repeatedly making such comments. Our current Comment policy is here.

He is off in the Pacific Islands at the moment I think. I voted for him not only because I like the way he doesn't take any cr4p but also because he was the only one who wants to look after NZ in terms of immigration!

I don't think immigration itself is the problem. The problem is the immigration is taking place with no robust plan on how to accommodate the additional population or fund the additional costs associated with the population increase.

Its a short-term solution to keep the appearance of GDP growth and neither government seems willing to address the issue. Pretty disappointing.

What are they all going to do? I have a friend working on an organic chicken farm, automatic egg packing machine has been ordered and turns up soon, 14 jobs will go potentially more depending on how it goes.

Pity most want to pay minimum wages like Richies. That is where the rorts and corruption is found along with naive exploited 3rd work immigrants. Happy to see doctors and engineers from overseas - they will not be left high and dry when a recession hits and they add value to NZ.

yes -its a pity but far less a pity than paying the same fit healthy people to sit on their arse all day claiming benefits -- there are plenty of better paid jobs out there - for people willing to turn up every day - work hard and learn -- in all industries - hell even home help pays $19.80 unqualified and $24.50 an hour if you do an in house one year L4 qualification - and i fully agree - immigration should only be skilled workers -- not tour guides and chefs!

If housing were not jacked up by immigration mortgage repayments would be less so women could stay at home and have kids... but of course it takes 20 years for a baby to grow up and vote/pay tax so the politicians don't care. High migration = less resources for kiwis = lower domestic birth rates = ethnic replacement.

yep, the model will need tuning. Still in the long run it will be more accurate, because it is measuring reality rather than "intentions" . A bit like intentions for tax purposes when selling a house have little reality to actual intentions...

This coalition government is seriously a train wreck!
Just another of their fantastic promises broken, as well as every other promise which haven’t been achieved!
Reduce child poverty! Has that happened and how do you measure this?
More and more people are queuing for food parcels and more and more people wanting emergency housing!
Is this a sign of reducing child poverty?
They are hopeless!

Adding to this:
I am still shocked when there were news: "Minimum allowed Meth contamination level was increased from 0.5 to 1.5"... I was buying properties in the past and believe me: 0.3 is smelly... you don't want to live there.... What about 1.5 now?

Then another news: they chaises up 800 evicted families due to now they appeared to be in allowed limit. They apologies, returned them to their (out tax payed) houses and gifted apologies cash...

So, here is a measure... Drug users are now happier then before spending their benefits (our taxes) on more drugs. Those who work hard and need help will still be in hardships.. as usual... Just because we are now accommodating more drug users, not working people.

People were being thrown out of their homes, and all of their belongings destroyed, because of a "high" meth reading, when there was no real health risk. Let alone whether it was proven that the occupiers had anything to do with it. Most instances they had not tested before they moved in.

They were then put in motels, and given ever increasing loans to pay for their living costs..

The money given to them was to help them get back what they lost and help pay off their loans, however photo albums and other sentimental items cannot be replaced.

Imagine if the govt threw out all your belongings without having done anything wrong but be poor... If you can.

i was listening to a podcast yesterday about a US backpacker that came to NZ to walk the south island TA, he remarked how easy it was to get a temp work permit 20 minutes on the MBIE website and when he was in the south island most of the workers looking after the tourists where themselves tourists and how crazy it was.
this is just a crazy situation lets flood the place with tourists then bring in backpackers to look after them meanwhile unemployment rises why? and no they are not all on drugs and dont want work

just returned from ridding a bike trail up north and stayed in two places both kiwi owned and kiwi employees and was more than happy to pay that little bit extra because of it but that was just me im sure most would want the cheapest price and wouldn't care where the employees are from or what it does to the local economy
i applaud this couple that are trying to build up a regional town and having seen first hand what they are doing i hope they get nominatedhttp://leftbank.co.nz/the-story/
It is hoped that the overall investment of almost $2m will cause visitors to stop, spend time and get to know the many great aspects of Kaikohe; the real issues that media does not report. By employing virtually all locals, this provides guests with an opportunity to get to know the people of our area, an experience commented on frequently – departing guests often leave with a big hug for the manager! One german couple commented that the evening sharing the backpackers unit with a local family attending a family reunion was one of the highlights of their New Zealand trip

Clearly the annual rotation of government workers has occurred. They move between Met office, treasury, and stats department. That is why our weather forecasts, economic forecasts, and understanding of what is happening in New Zealand is so poor. It sure would be good if the Stats department could release the details from the census of last year. Perhaps they are all occupied counting Kiwi Build houses. They should employ Shane Jones and Twyford to creatively produce some figures that help us put up with the nonsense coming from the Beehive.

Neat! another city added to our vast country.. plenty of empty houses for them to move into.. we need more cars on the roads and will also help lessen our environmental footprint and improve our quality of life. More fish for everyone!

It really is quite horrific, I feel for all the people involved. But you're right, as I have mentioned on here numerous times Christchurch is definitely the crime filled racist Skin Head capital of New Zealand.

Witness Ahmad Al-Mahmoud, 37, described the shooter as white skinned, blond, quite short and wearing a helmet and a bulletproof vest.

Very very sad. Would almost be my definition of "Not NZ Values" - Kiwis are famous the world over for being open minded and prejudice free which explains why so many countries are happy to welcome them on OE.

My visibly immigrant wife has never experienced any racist abuse in NZ (16 years in Auckland) and I hope her step-son and his Melanesian family who live in Christchurch haven't either.

"Right-wing extremists have been very visible, very vocal in Christchurch and have carried out attacks on minority communities regularly over the past decade or so. This is not surprising, as terrible as it is, because of that."

Well Paul Buchanan is saying on Radio NZ it is likely to be a ChCh based cell.
And he is also saying there needs to be a lot of intelligence soul searching.
We are incredibly guilty in this country of complacency on many fronts.

People, a monumentally horrific crime has taken place in Christchurch today. At this point 49 people have been murdered in cold blood and many more are injured. There are some unacceptable comments on this site that we are removing. Some responses may go with them.

Gareth,with respect you have allowed someone to post that ChCh is a rascist city and the shooter is a skinhead right winger!
That is absolute rubbish and that should be deleted as it is BS!
The perpetrator came from Grafton Australia and his manifesto states that he was originally going to target the Dunedin mosque.
ChCh is not to blame for this cowardly act anymore so than any other place in the world and he should not get away with that.
Also The perpetrator was not raised in ChCh at all as Fritz has stated.
He is totally out of order with his statements
Anyway your site m delete what you want !

The deaths are terrible but I'm worried about the attacks actual point of origin. Its not lost on me that this occurred on the day of the global students environmental strike. I have grave doubts that there is any sort of cell operating in NZ, given we are part of 5 eyes, arguably the most invasive surveillance system in the world, it would be highly unlikely to escape detection given it has repeatedly detected terror cells in far more remote parts of the world. I guess we can look forward to permanently armed police and reduced civil liberties in the future. As for immigration being driven by the view of NZ being a safe bolt hole...Mr Thiel will be hiding in his panic room right about now....see you at the airport!

Some really sick and prejudice comments against Christchurch again on this site.. note usually it is allowed and not moderated...even on a day like this , simply pathetic. Racism is in every community so get over your selves and get out of your bubble.

We may all have a smidgen of racism in us but we should keep it under control.

For all Muslims reading this blog - every non-Muslim Kiwi with a shred of humanity is thinking of you after this terrible crime. There is some extra evil about being attacked when praying in a place of worship.

Speckles you are correct as I have said above!
There are some really biased people on here!
ChCh did have some skinhead episodes a decade or so ago,but there has been next to nothing since as far as I am aware.
I feel a damn site safer walking around ChCh at night than Auckland where I have been several times, but that is never commented on!
Fritz comments are blatantly wrong and yet they have been allowed to remain!!!!

15/03/2019 will go down as the day NZ has lost is innocence
its the day terrorism appeared within our borders.
who cares what his motivation was or who he is or where he is from he has brought hate to our wonderful country and taken away our innocence.
well done to all our public service people that went above and beyond today, the police who rushed in , the doctors and nurses that stayed after shifts or rushed to the hospital to help
and all the others that helped in any small way they could.
this is not who we are kia kaha christchurch

BIG SAVINGS ON

BIG CURRENCY TRANSFERS

Currency rates on this page are supplied for indication purposes only, and may or may not be rates offered by any institution. We source this data from publicly available sources, at the time shown above. Rates change often, and different institutions are competitive in different currencies. Contact institutions directly for actual quotes. The comparisons on this tool are controlled by interest.co.nz.